Ethiopia's First Marburg Virus Outbreak: Readiness Gaps, Response Progress, and Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract

In November 2025, Ethiopia confirmed its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease in South Omo Zone, marking a critical public health emergency in a previously unaffected country. The outbreak was detected following reports of suspected viral hemorrhagic fever in Jinka town, with laboratory confirmation achieved within days through national reference laboratory testing. By mid-December 2025, 14 laboratory-confirmed cases had been identified, including 9 deaths and 5 recoveries, following nearly 2 thousand investigations nationwide. This report describes the detection of the outbreak, early epidemiological characteristics, and key response actions implemented by national and regional authorities. It highlights operational challenges related to surveillance, diagnostic access, and response coordination in remote settings, as well as the importance of community engagement and multisectoral collaboration. Ethiopia's first experience with Marburg virus disease provides timely lessons for strengthening preparedness, early detection, and response capacity for high-consequence pathogens in sub-Saharan Africa.